MagicBand 2 Photos & Unboxing
The MagicBand 2 is now shipping, and ours just arrived for our next trip to Walt Disney World; we thought we’d show them to you in this post. We’ll start out with some thoughts on them, and also add a visual side by side comparison to the OG MagicBands. Oh, and in true internet form, we’ll share an unboxing video. (I don’t know why unboxing videos are a “thing” but some people seem to like them, so whatever…)
Let’s start with a brief overview: MagicBand 2 is the successor to the original MagicBand, and the primary differences here are the new one being slightly larger yet lighter, and having a removable “puck” style that allow it to be placed in keychains and other (presumably upcoming) accessories. Fret not, as it’s almost physically impossible for the puck to fall out–you need a screwdriver. I’m actually surprised that they didn’t go the FitBit route and allow them to pop out a bit easier.
Additionally, there’s significantly less packaging. Our last MagicBands came in a thick box featuring the Incredibles, which itself was inside of another box for shipment. The shipping box doubles as the packaging here, with Cinderella Castle pictured on the inside. I’m sure this amounts to cost-savings for Disney, but it’s also more eco-friendly, so win-win.
My assumption is that cost-savings were the impetus behind switching to the removable puck style. Even as production costs have dropped significantly, they are still around $5 per MagicBand and almost all of that can be attributed to the HF RFID and RF tech inside the MagicBand.
With that tech now in the puck, Disney can sell tech-less MagicBands at a higher margin, and potentially send guests future MagicBands sans pucks. It’s hard to envision the raw material for the thermoplastic polyurethane band costing more than a few cents (the old packaging probably cost more than the plastic in the bands).
If you’re wondering, the MagicBand 2 started shipping right around the beginning of 2017, with some slight overlap between the old and new bands. By this point, if you’re booking a Walt Disney World vacation now or in the future, you should almost certainly receive the MagicBand 2.
That is, unless they get recalled for exploding on flights. (Hopefully Disney didn’t use the same suppliers as Samsung…) We’re guessing that’s pretty unlikely, though, so you should receive your own set of MagicBand 2s the next time you travel to Walt Disney World…
Finally, to my knowledge, unlike the stupid new refillable mugs, the MagicBand 2 is officially* microwave safe! At least, I assume so.
There’s no warning telling me otherwise, so that means I can do it and I’m not responsible for the consequences because no one warned me otherwise. I’m pretty hyped to microwave this bad boy!
That’s really about all there is to know about the MagicBand 2 (at least to my knowledge–if you have questions, ask), so here’s the unboxing:
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of the MagicBand 2? Do you prefer the lighter new design? Wish it were smaller or had a sleeker profile? Wish you could just ditch the MagicBand completely and have the whole system integrated into your smartphone? Share any questions or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Can you link your credit card to the Magic Band even if you aren’t an annual pass holder? We will be staying at a Disney Resort.
Yes! Through your My Disney Experience account!
Got the MagicBand 2 for our trip in two weeks! I was wondering if we’d make the cut, traveling early in the year, and we did! Can’t wait to go!
My original magic bands still works. 6 yrs now
Can’t wait until we get our Magic Bands 2.0 for our February visit!
We are taking our first Disney trip 3/3/17. I accidentally ordered the original magic bands for my family of 4 (spent $50), and now they suggest we should buy the newer version. I understand the ones I purchased will still work. As far as you know, is there any reason we would need the new version? Will the older version limit us in any way?
I am loving your website, so much valuable info. Thank you!!!
It will not limit you!
Do you know if this is what new passholders are getting for magic bands?
My wife and I received the new magicbands a week or two ago for the annual passes we purchased in December.
How much were the Magic Bands?
Yes, they are.
The removable puck goes both ways
— as you point out, Disney can now sell puck-less bands if they choose, but
— if you’ve bought a limited edition (2.0) band of any kind, you’re guaranteed that it won’t become a doorstop at some point in the future when the battery runs out.
I don’t really see any downside to the removable puck concept. What you identify above is really a win-win (and I always think less waste is a good thing).
The only downside is the design, and I don’t think that’s necessarily inherent to the puck style. Just what Disney chose for v2.
OCD Disney fanatic here. The only downside I see is mixing and matching the colors. I think it would have been nice to have the puck fully covered by the sleeve, so if you did get a new color/style of band it wouldn’t clash. We got them for our trip in a few weeks, so well shall see! But now I have to collect all the colors of another band!
How are the band’s with kids my son is very small at age 12 it will fall off his wrist. Do they have kids sizes. And what about water are they water proof.
The band lengths vary greatly. In fact, it is hard to describe, but there was a way to remove part of the band (previously anyways) so that it fit a very small child like my 5 year old daughter.
Oh on more thing…can the new bands be made into kid size like the old ones?!
911 Kipuka Dr NW
Are the old magic bands still good? for how long? i recently purchased a watch accessory at the park (it was none too cheap either) and would like to use it as long as I can. It doesn’t look like it will fit on the new bands …..
I am happy to see PURPLE!! Will definitely be picking that one!! Not sure if I am a fan of them being bigger but wont know until I try it out…but it is a good option to be able to attach the puck to a key-chain, or something other than your wrist!!!
While I understand the need to reduce packaging, these boxes just aren’t as nice as the Incredibles one. They just don’t have the wow factor that the others had. Luckily, we have quite a few of the old ones!
We just got ours yesterday. I will have to keep an eye on my youngest now that I know there might be an issue with them falling apart.
I would have liked the new bands to be smaller rather than larger. I don’t wear a wristwatch and don’t really like having things on my arms. I can tolerate a magicband, but I might be looking into a lanyard for these.
On the other hand, if you are buying the aftermarket bands (which is probably not a bad cash stream for Disney) the larger bands give more room for decoration.
Will the first edition ones still be useable in the parks? I just keep thinking about the people that spent money on character ones and such.
Ps good job on the unblocking Tom! My husband is obsessed with watching those videos on YT.
Yes, the first edition ones will still work until the battery dies, which I believe is estimated at ~2 years.
PURPLE! 🙂
WHEN is your trip? I’m leaving Feb 23 and don’t have mine yet.
They usually ship about a month before your trip. They don’t want them coming too early so they don’t get forgotten.
I have heard that MagicBand 3 will be an RF-ID chip buried in your skin. So stocked for those. That one will be microwave and dishwasher safe!
I don’t understand the removable puck. What purpose does it serve? Do the bands stay on better? I have three little kids and we never had one fall off but I was nervous half the time about keeping track of them.
The puck is removable so you can put it in new types of holders. Pendants, keychains … you have more flexibility than just a wristband now.
Why is that a big deal? Some people hated the idea of a “gaudy wristband in our photos.” There are also some kids who hated having something around their wrist.
And some sensory kids that refuse to wear anything in their wrist
I just got back from marathon weekend and still had a MagicBand 1. However, I noticed the new MagicBand I got for the trip seemed flimsier than the older ones I’ve got and it didn’t fasten as securely around my wrist. Sure enough, on my last night the band fell off somewhere between Pirates and Splash so I had to wait an hour at my resort to get through the line at the front desk to get a new one so I could access my room. Hopefully the 2.0 isn’t also flimsy.
It’s pretty flimsy. Obviously, I haven’t tested it in the parks yet since they just arrived, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s more of an issue with this one.
On the one hand, I’m all for using fewer plastics and the like in products like this when possible, but this turned into a giant pain (I’m surprised it didn’t fall off during the marathon, actually). Next time I’ll bring a rubber band or some small thing to try and double around it to keep that from happening, or just remove the pod and put it in something else since that’s a possibility with the new bands. I suppose using the older, more sturdy MagicBands is an option too (for now, while they still work). I’d be interested to see if they see a rise in lost MagicBands with the newer design, if they even keep track of that information.
I would love to be able to use my Apple Watch to do all of the things.
I keep looking for an excuse to purchase an Apple Watch, and I think that would be exactly the push I need…
Ooohhhh….we would LOVE to be able to use our Apple Watches at WDW in lieu of a Magic Band – hopefully that will become an option in the future! (BTW the new Magic Bands look bulky & rather cumbersome, hmmm…)